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ilNiTEn STATES ATENT Grrrcn.

JAMES FOLEY, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

SOFTENING, PLUMPING, AND DEPILATING HIDES AND SKINS.

SPECIFIGATION'fQrming part of Letters Patent No. 226,447, dated April13,1880,

' Application filed October 30, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FOLEY, of Montreal, Province of Quebec,Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTreating Hides and Skins Previous to Tanning; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to removing the hair and epidermis from hides andskins of every description and however cured, softening dried and curedhides and skins, and separating the wool and hair from skinsin theirnatural state.

There are many methods of removing hair from hides and skins, the oldestof which, and that most extensively followed, consists in theapplication of a solution of lime but this method is not free fromimportant objections. Owing to the energetic action which free limeexerts on animal tissues, a considerable portion of the gelatinoustissueof the hide is disintegrated and decomposed during the liming process,being removed from the hide in the form of soluble gelatine, or else soaltered as to be rendered incapable of combining with tannin, therebyincurring a serious loss in the weight of leather that should beproduced and in its quality.

For unhairing or removing the hair and epidermis from hides and skins Iuse, instead of lime, but in a somewhat similar manner, solutions ofsulphide of barium of varying strengths, prepared by dissolving in watersolid sulphide of barium, produced by heating finely-ground sulphate ofbaryta mixed with carbonaceous substances to about a white heat in a'reverberatory furnace or other suitable appliance.

In treating green slaughter hides and skins to remove the hair andepidermis, I first wash them to remove the blood and dirt, and thenimmerse them in a strong solution of sulphide of barium, about 15 Baum,for about three to six hours. They are then withdrawn, again washed, andtaken to the beam-house, to be treated in the usual manner.

In the treatment of salted or cured hides and skins for the removal ofthe hair and epidermis, I first immerse them about .ten to twelve hoursin an old or partially-spent solution of sulphide of barium, for thepurpose of cleansing them and destroying the effect of the salt orsubstance with which they were cured, and afterward immerse them in asolution of sulphide of barium of about 6 to S Baum for about ten hours,when they are ready for the usual treatment in the beam-house.

In the treatment of dried or flint hides and skins, it is necessary,before the hair and epidermis can be removed, to soften them, and this Ido by soaking them about twenty-four hours in a solution of sulphide ofbarium that has already been used for unhairing, or in a weak freshsolution of about 3 Baum.

After the dried hides and skins are thoroughly softened in all theirparts, in the manner above set forth, I immerse them, for the purpose ofremoving the hair and epidermis, in a solution of sulphide of barium ofabout 5 Baum for about six hours, and then pass them on to thebeam-house.

In the treatment of skins for the removal of wool and hair, I apply onthe flesh side of the skins, by any suitable means, a concentratedsolution of sulphide of barium mixed with any inert substance to theconsistency of a thin paste. The solution applied in this mannerpenetrates the skin, loosens the roots of the wool or hair, and allowsit to be removed uninjured and in its natural condition.

My invention has a great many advantages over the present liming processand all processes now in use for removinghair from hides and skins andsoftening them, and among others the following: No part of thegelatinous tissue, grain, or substance of the hide is removed ordisturbed. Hides and skins are left in their natural state andsuppleness. At least twenty-five per cent. greater weight of leather canbe obtained from hides treated by my invention than by any otherprocess. The hair is removed in one-twentieth part of the time usuallyemployed, thus effecting a great saving in time,labor, and expense.Hides and skins treated by my invention and intended for upper-leatherdo not require to go through the operation of hating or puring, whicheffects another saving in time and expense.

I am aware that a number of patents have been obtained for sulphide orsulphuret of calcium for the purpose of depilating hides and skins.

Sulphide of calcium has been tried by tanners both in Europe andAmerica, and abandoned, owing to its cost theincreased expenditure forlabor attending its application, and its injurious action upon thehides. It dissolves and removes a portion of the fibrous tissue-a veryformidable objection to its use.

In my experience I have found that sulphur combined with lime simplyrenders the lime more soluble, allowing it (the lime) to act quicker;but in this state the lime also penetrates the hide, and,notwithstanding repeated washings, remains in the hide and forms, withthe tannin, an almost insoluble tannate which deprives the hides oftheir suppleness and renders them dry and brittle.

JAMES FOLEY.

Witnesses:

E. A. LEDGARD, WM. F. LIGHTHALL.

